Growth in love is an important measure of how well we are doing in our spiritual lives - Daily Bible Readings November 6,2013

1^ST READING

 

Paul tells us that growing in love is the most important thing we can do in life. He challenges us to compete against one another in the love that we have for God and others. He teaches us that growth in our love is an important measure of how well we are doing in our spiritual lives.

 

Romans 13:8-10

8 Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 112:1-2, 4-5, 9

R: Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 4 He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus does not mean that we have to literally hate our parents. What He means to teach us is that we need to prefer God over everyone else. The most important relationship we develop in life is with God and this fact ought to be reflected in the way we make our choices, preferring Him over all other people.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

 

Luke 14:25-33

25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

think:  Growth in love is an important measure of how well we are doing in our spiritual lives.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 16-20